Pages

Guest Post: 4 tips for protecting your skin from the sun

Monday, August 20, 2012

Proper summer-time sun protection is
one of those things that many people forget to take care of for years. They
feel fine, aside from the occasional sunburn or two, and think nothing of it;
that is, until a doctor discovers skin cancer one day -of all the cancer types,
probably one of the most easy to avoid. Cancer risks aside, letting your skin
get baked by the sun on a daily basis any time the sun gets nice and hot is a
great way to wrinkle earlier in life and create other skin effects that can
ruin a smooth unblemished look.

To cover just a few: overexposing your skin can
cause anything from several types of carcinoma and melanoma, skin lesions,
freckles, wrinkles to dermal discoloration.

Here are several sun protection tips
that will let you enjoy the lovely summer rays without all the danger.

Cover Up
Effectively

Of course, you don't want to be
completely wrapped up like a mummy whenever you're out in the summer sun, but
that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least cover your skin from needless
exposure. If you're just walking around and running errands, or maybe working
in the open midday sunlight, use a hat, put on some sunglasses with good UV
protection and wear shirts with longer sleeves. Unless you're sun tanning,
these are the best and first line of protection so use them when there is no
good reason to expose.

Avoid the
Worst Sunlight

Not all the sun's rays that pass
through a day are created equal. The sun is at it's worst by far between the
hours of 11 am and 2 pm. If you want to be extra cautious, between 10:00 am and
3:00 pm. Avoid the direct sunlight during these hours and you drop your chances
of dangerous UV exposure dramatically. Instead of going to the beach at midday,
wait to have a nice afternoon barbeque and beer get-together with friends; the
water is warmest in the afternoon anyhow. If you're out during the hottest
hours, try to stick to the shade and take a beach umbrella if you go to the
beach.

Slather on
the Sunscreen

This is an obvious step in
protecting yourself from the sun. Buy yourself a good quality sunscreen that
has a Sun Protection Factor of at least 35 and apply it whenever you're at the
beach or heavily exposed to the UV rays. If you're swimming or sweating a lot
during the day, make sure you reapply the sunscreen every two or three hours.
Slather it particularly generously on your shoulders, back, arms and face. If
you're bald, don't forget to protect your dome.

Take Care
of Your Skin

Your skin is the single most
beautiful organ on your body, the one you'll have to show to everyone for as
long as you live; take good care of it. This means that, aside from all the
usual sun protection tips, you should also get it regularly checked up by a
general practitioner or even a dermatologist. Keep an eye out for any strange
lesions and moles, and get them checked out if you find them. As a final skin
care tip, use moisturizing creams and vitamin supplements that are known to
improve skin quality, in addition to the sunscreen you apply daily while in the
sunlight.

Debbie Sweet has
worked as a skin care specialist for many years and has handled a wide range of
acne treatments.

"Mollie is an amazing, positive motivator, just what you need when you are trying to become more active."

"By the end of the VTG I was exercising regularly and feeling SO much better about myself, my relationships and life in general."

"Mollie is an amazing trainer; with a real passion for exercise and enthusiasm in American size portions (congratulatory high fives are obligatory) that just rubs off on you even if you weren’t in the mood when you started."